A Norse Odyssey

Jeanette Hardy (Wight) was an RFYC member for a number of years and was a regular racer on the Forth with her boat Hocus Pocus, before moving to Liverpool, where she still actively races in her Hunter Impala.

In May 2011 Jeanette and her husband Dave left Liverpool in their 28ft. Hunter Impala on a 3 month journey to Norway and back. Dave had retired at the end of October the previous year and immediately started preparing the boat for the trip. He said he had never worked so hard, even when in employment.

By May 2011 they were as ready as they were going to be and left Liverpool to journey via the Isle of Man up the West Coast of Scotland, which they knew and loved. From Fort William they traversed the Caledonian Canal which was a new experience for them and then Inverness, Lossimouth and Whitehills before striking off across the North Sea.

Two days and two nights brought them to the coast of southern Norway, where they spent a month cruising up 100 miles of coast, islands and fjords. They visited Bergen and also Sognefjord, which is the largest fjord in Norway, reaching 120 miles inland and which is 1,300 metres deep, with cliffs rising to 1,000 metres.

Along the way they met some old friends (it’s a small world) as well as making new ones, including a couple from Port Edgar. They experienced a variety of overnight stops at small and large villages and towns, and at one place paid for their mooring by credit card at a machine (John Spencely’s ears pricked up at this one). They also took in a couple of midsummer night parties and took photographs at midnight to show the “midnight sun”. They found strange buoyage markings and had to look out for clearing heights of bridges connecting the islands.

Finally they had to head back home, but managed to take in the Shetland Islands, the Orkneys and Cape Wrath (which they told us translates as “corner” rather than anger) before heading back down the West Coast and the Crinan Canal.

A stunning odyssey of over 2000 miles which kept the members glued to the screen for over 2 hours.

Boatman hours and tides, clubhouse and office hours

Generally the club house is opened by the cleaner or the first person on duty, and closed by the last.

Over the summer, the Club House will be open for members to use the facilities (including self service tea and coffee in the bar area):
– during the week – during staff working hours, generally opening by 09:00 and closing around 17:00 or when the boatman finishes in the evening;
– at weekends – a small team of volunteers will aim to ensure the clubhouse is open for members to use during the day, typically 09:00-17:00.
These times will be extended, and the bar opened, for the events advertised in the Events Calendar.